The Charlotte events calendar features free and cheap things to do every day. Think there's nothing to do? Look at this list of Charlotte events to get some ideas. You'll find festivals, free food, music, kids' activities and much more.
Click each title to see more information about the event or deal. You can also view the whole month (click "By Month") or see a specific date (click By Day).
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Double-Check Before You Head Out!
We make every effort to make sure that everything on Charlotte on the Cheap is 100% accurate.
However, sometimes things change without notice, and we are not always notified. It's also possible that we can make a mistake.
Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go.
You might also be interested in one of these more specific calendars:
Thursday, October 1, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 off chips & queso | Discounted | Lenny Boy Brewing Co. | |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Dance Class | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Sugaw Creek Recreation Center |
| Mission City Church's Food Pantry Distribution Event | 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm | FREE | Mission City Church |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: African Drumming | 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | West Charlotte Recreation Center |
| Hope Street Food Pantry Food Distribution | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Hope Street Food Pantry |
| Night Market at Pascuales' Farm, including vendors, farm tours, scavenger hunt, more | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Pascuales’ Farm |
| Uptown Live: Live music and DJs on Thursday evenings | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Truist Center Plaza |
| Family Chess Night -- pizza and chess! | 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | University City Regional Library |
| Concerts in the Garden: Bryan Pressley | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Glencairn Garden, Rock Hill |
| Free recycling class for kids | 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Live Music Thursdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Plaza Midwood Chess Club Meetup | 6:00 pm | FREE | Common Market Plaza Midwood |
| Board Game Night | 6:30 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Sketchbook Swap | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Nature Trivia | 7:00 pm | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| Music Bingo | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Middle James Brewing, Pineville |
| Charlotte Chess Center Meet-up at Wooden Robot Brewery | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Wooden Robot Brewery (South End) |
| The Traitors Watch Party | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Pilot Brewing |
| Crossroads Cinema: Pirates of the Caribbean | 8:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Karaoke Thursdays | 9:00 pm | FREE | Hattie’s Tap and Tavern |
Friday, October 2, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free NC Missions of Mercy (NC MOM) Dental Clinic | 6:00 am | FREE | City Church, Gastonia |
| Free Weekly Water Playgroup for Babies & Preschoolers at Charlotte Aquatics | 10:00 am to 10:30 am | FREE | Charlotte Aquatics |
| Move Beyond: Learn Contemporary and Cambodian Dance in free classes | 10:00 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Open Door Studios |
| Oktoberfest at Gilde Brewery | 10:00 am to 11:59 pm | FREE | Gilde Brewery |
| The Soft Return: Music Therapy for Postpartum Moms | 10:30 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Huntersville Recreation Center |
| Mecktoberfest at OMB Ballantyne | 11:00 am to 11:00 pm | FREE | The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten — Ballantyne |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 11:00 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Food Truck Friday at Resident Culture Brewing | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Resident Culture Brewing Plaza Midwood |
| University City Food Truck Friday | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Armored Cow Brewing |
| Asian Night Market | 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Urban District Market |
| Live Music: Jarret Raymond | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Frank’s Beer Shop |
| Music on the Green at Promenade on Providence | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Promenade on Providence |
| Live Music: SOS Unit | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Kannapolis Fire Truck Parade, plus food drive | 6:00 pm | FREE | Kannapolis 911 |
| Live Music: The Brews Brothers | 6:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| South End Gallery Crawl | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Historic South End |
| Friday Nights at Camp North End | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Movie Night at Rea Farms: Coco | 6:30 pm | FREE | Rea Farms |
| Line Dancing with Mary Mary | 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Traust Brewing Company, Mount Holly |
| Haunted Dallas Ghost Tour | 7:00 pm | $0-15.00 | Gaston County Museum |
| Symphony Under the Stars, and America 250 drone show | 7:00 pm | FREE | Liberty Park, Mooresville |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 7:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
| Friday Live Music | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| Friday Night Live Music Series | 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm | FREE | The Craic |
| Lights, Camera, Birkdale: The Haunted Mansion | 7:30 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| FabFest: Tosco Music Beatles Tribute | 7:30 pm | $22.50-56.50 | Knight Theater |
| Haunted Dallas Ghost Tour | 8:00 pm | $0-15.00 | Gaston County Museum |
| Whitewater Film Series (free admission; $13 for parking) | 8:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Friday Live Music | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 9:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
| Karaoke Idol | 9:00 pm | FREE | Beer Lab by Ghostface Brewing |
Saturday, October 3, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOOM Fall Fringe Festival | 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm | $15.00 | VAPA Center |
| The Catawba Riversweep | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Free museum admission first weekend of month for Bank of America/Merrill customers | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| College Football Saturdays | FREE | OpenTap | |
| Free NC Missions of Mercy (NC MOM) Dental Clinic | 6:00 am | FREE | City Church, Gastonia |
| Free Rabies Vaccination Clinic -- mega clinic | 8:00 am to 10:45 am | FREE | Charlotte Vehicle Operations Center |
| Free Shred Day in York | 8:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | York County Public Works |
| Fitness in the Park: Full day of free fitness classes in South End | 8:15 am to 5:20 pm | FREE | Wilmore Centennial Park at South End |
| Town of Pineville Paper Shredding Event | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Pineville Town Hall |
| Home Depot Kids Workshop: Witch Candy Box | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | The Home Depot, multiple locations |
| Caffeine and Classics Car Show at Streetside Classics | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Streetside Classics Charlotte |
| Blessing of the Animals at Davidson UMC | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Davidson United Methodist Church |
| World Wellness and United Festival, in celebration of Gandhi's birth anniversary | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Gandhi Park |
| Kids in Nature Day | 10:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Squirrel Lake Park |
| Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Col. Francis Beatty Park |
| Fabfest Daytime: Immersive Beatles Festival | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | CPCC Central Campus: The Parr Center |
| 45th Annual Autumn Jubilee at Dan Nicholas Park | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Dan Nicholas Park, Salisbury |
| Lowe's gives away FREE Halloween Trick-or-Treat tote bags (must be rewards member) | 10:00 am | FREE | Lowe’s (multiple stores) |
| Saturday Morning Yoga | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | $5.00 | Lenny Boy Brewing Co. |
| Visit Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society Museum | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society & Museum |
| Oktoberfest at Gilde Brewery | 10:00 am to 11:59 pm | FREE | Gilde Brewery |
| Charlotte Kids Fest | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Boardwalk at University City |
| Front Porch Market | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| PumkingFest at Brewers at 4001 Yancey | 11:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | Brewers at 4001 Yancey |
| Blessing of the Animals and Adoption Event in China Grove | 11:00 am | FREE | 320 North Event Center, China Grove |
| 7 Year Anniversary Party | 11:00 am | FREE | Middle James Brewing, Pineville |
| Bowl Street Market presented by Shop Local QC | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | The Bowl at Ballantyne |
| Front Porch Charlotte | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | 2200 Thrift Road, Charlotte |
| Mecktoberfest at OMB Ballantyne | 11:00 am to 11:00 pm | FREE | The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten — Ballantyne |
| Bard at the Barn: Free outdoor, family-friendly performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream | 11:00 am | FREE | The Barn at MoRA |
| Around the World in Objects: A World-Building Adventure with Listening Labs | 11:30 am to 1:30 pm | FREE | University City Regional Library |
| IKEA Kids Club: Free workshop to decorate Halloween cookies and cinnamon buns (registration required) | 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm | FREE | IKEA |
| For The Girls Vintage Market | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| Concord International Festival | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Concord |
| Hola Charlotte Festival | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Center City Charlotte–festival area |
| K-Fest: Celebration of Korean culture at Seoul Food Meat Co -- Mill District | 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Seoul Food Meat Co., Mill District |
| 7th Anniversary Celebration | 12:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Blessing of the Animals with St. Matthews Church | 12:00 pm | FREE | St. Matthew Catholic Church |
| Blessing of the Animals at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church | 12:00 pm | FREE | St. Philip Neri Church–Fort Mill |
| Morelia Gourmet Paletas: Free Paletas for 10th Anniversary | 12:00 pm | FREE | Morelia Gourmet Paletas, multiple locations |
| VAPA Center Open Studios | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | VAPA Center |
| Indie on Wheels: Teen Horror Series Double Feature | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | University City Regional Library |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Hopfly Bike and Brew | 1:30 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Pilot Oktoberfest -- free brats, plus Oktoberfest contests | 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Pilot Brewing |
| Montford Park Block Party | 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Park Road and Mockingbird Lane |
| Old Town Oktoberfest in Rock Hill | 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Fountain Park, Rock Hill |
| Saturday Live Music | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Triple C Brewing Co. Taproom, South End |
| Concerts @ The Circles: Blue Monday (MTV Generation) | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Clean Juice, Davidson |
| Festival of Food Trucks in Mooresville | 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Downtown Mooresville |
| Movies Under the Stars at Charlotte Premium Outlets: Minions & Monsters | 5:30 pm | FREE | Charlotte Premium Outlets |
| Music on the Green at Promenade on Providence | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Promenade on Providence |
| DREAMPLAZA at Tip Top Daily Market: Psychedelic/Electronic/Experimental Music | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Tip Top Daily Market |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Live Music: Melody Hager | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery |
| Free Mystery Night Hike -- guided hike, bat watching, Halloween candy, more! | 7:00 pm | FREE | Mint Museum Randolph |
| WDAV's Small Batch: Chamber Music For All (pay what you wish) | 7:00 pm | Free Range Brewing | |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 7:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
| Saturday Live Music | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 9:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
Sunday, October 4, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOOM Fall Fringe Festival | 12:00 pm to 7:30 pm | $15.00 | VAPA Center |
| Cinnaholic: Buy one get one free Cinnamon Rolls | All Day | Various locations | |
| Free museum admission first weekend of month for Bank of America/Merrill customers | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Cinnabon: $1 Classic Roll | $1.00 | Various locations | |
| Free or donation-based yoga at Famers' Market | 9:00 am to 10:00 am | FREE | Charlotte Regional Farmers Market |
| 45th Annual Autumn Jubilee at Dan Nicholas Park | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Dan Nicholas Park, Salisbury |
| Oktoberfest at Gilde Brewery | 10:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | Gilde Brewery |
| Sensory-friendly hours at Discovery Place Science | 10:30 am to 1:30 pm | $18.00-23.00 | Discovery Place Science |
| Mecktoberfest at OMB Ballantyne | 11:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten — Ballantyne |
| Shop Local Sundays Pop-Up Market | 11:00 am to 7:00 pm | Camp North End | |
| Bard at the Barn: Free outdoor, family-friendly performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream | 11:00 am | FREE | The Barn at MoRA |
| Figure Drawing | 11:00 am | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| Open Play Mahjong | 11:30 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| Oktoberfest | 12:00 pm | FREE | Eleven Lakes Brewing, Cornelius |
| Latin and Hispanic Heritage Month Storytime Series | 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm | FREE | Stevens Creek Nature Preserve and Center |
| Sunday Live Music | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Triple C Brewing Co. Taproom, South End |
| Sensory-Friendly Hours at Discovery Place Kids | 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm | $15.00 | Discovery Place Kids |
| Free Tour at Torance House & Store | 2:00 pm | FREE | Hugh Torance House & Store |
| Blessing of the Animals and the Stuffies at St. John's Baptist Church | 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | St. John’s Baptist Church |
| Blessing of the Animals with Myers Park United Methodist Church | 3:00 pm | FREE | Myers Park United Methodist Church |
| Free Live Music Sundays | 3:00 pm | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| Blessing of the Animals at Christ Episcopal Church | 4:00 pm | FREE | Christ Episcopal Church Charlotte |
| Blessing of the Animals at St. Mark's Episcopal Church | 4:00 pm | FREE | St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Huntersville |
| We're Having an Open Mic, Frank! | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Live music: Cody Bolden and the Roadhands | 5:00 pm | FREE | The Thirsty Beaver Saloon |
| Blessing of the Animals at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church | 5:30 pm | FREE | Holy Comforter Episcopal Church |
| Downtown Jazz Jam | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Slow Play Brewing, Rock Hill |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 7:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
| Panthers vs. Lions Watch Party | 8:30 pm to 11:30 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 9:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
Monday, October 5, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Children's Theatre of Charlotte: Life Skills Through Theatre Skills | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Tuckaseegee Recreation Center |
| Busy Beetles Bug Hunt | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Stevens Creek Nature Preserve and Center |
| Mindful Mondays: 20% off N/A beers and alcohol free drinks | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Pilot Brewing |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Ballet | 3:15 pm to 4:15 pm | FREE | Northern Regional Recreation Center |
| Free line dancing lesson | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Swanee Theatre, Kannapolis |
| Dance With Me: Line Dancing -- beginning lesson and open dance | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $5.00 | The Barrel Room at Triple C, South End |
| Game Night | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Urban District Market |
| Open Mic Night | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Nerd Night: games and free pizza | 7:00 pm | FREE | Resident Culture Brewing Plaza Midwood |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 7:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
| Star Wars Summer Movie Series | 7:15 pm | FREE | Ben & Jerry’s Davidson |
| Bill Hanna Legacy Jazz Session | 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $7.00-10.00 | Petra’s |
| Karaoke at Starlight on 22nd | 7:30 pm to 11:30 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Find Your Muse Open Mic | 7:30 pm | $8.24 | The Evening Muse |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 9:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
